royalharris
Registered Member
Two years later, the J-36 and J-50 may no longer feel lonely.
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No, the first F-47 is now in production. The prototyping stage is done. F-47 will undergo a testing period similar to B-21, but F-47 will be production representative.

Going to disagree. The F-117 was operational well before it was known publicly. We could be seeing the same thing here.
It was experimental test that flied in 2025.
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Boeing F-47 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
While the first flight is expected in 2028.
It was experimental test that flied in 2025.
View attachment 182318
![]()
Boeing F-47 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
While the first flight is expected in 2028.
We shall see in 2028, by then both J-36 and J-50 and other sixth gen unmanned jets are already entering LRIP stage.Yeah, Hundreds of hours of test flight to validate and test various systems and technologies as stated by officials. F47 prototype will be production representative. just like B21.
We shall see in 2028, by then both J-36 and J-50 and other sixth gen unmanned jets are already entering LRIP stage.

None of my business.Hey are you suddenly greenlighting us to go into the threads in the China Defense forum and start posting replies? I'm sure they'll be real happy about you asking us to do that.
We certainly have no problem doing that if you'd like.
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2028 is the aimed date of first flight of prototype F-47.
This will only become clear as the LRIP F-47 will be at least 5 years after 2028. Probably closer to 7 years.
If in 2030 they bring LRIP F-47 then we will know 2028's was more of a B-21 like, near service version but time again will prove us correct like it has for the last 20 years whether the topic was about J-10 or EMALs or AESA radars, anti-ship ballistic missiles capable of hitting moving targets or hypersonic gliders. First it is disbelief and ridicule and eventually it is quiet ignoring but deep down, acceptance.
Who cares. Believe the 2028 F-47 is a near ready version all you want. Your belief in a falsity will never make it true.
USAF reps have officially spelled it clearly. 2019 flights were experimental, concept design flights. This relates to the step before prototyping. The contract for the prototype was only awarded last year. Again, the USAF or defence representatives have spelled it out that the contract awarded in 2025 was to build the prototype for the program that won. The program won and was selected based off evaluation of concept studies NOT prototypes. For example, J-20 prototype was only done after the J-20 beat the Shenyang program. It was evaluated against each other based on concept studies and lower level demonstrators.
Same thing with YF-22 and YF-23. Both were pre-prototype fly offs and when the YF-22 won the program for the ATF, it took 11 years to go from YF-22 to LRIP F-22. If the 2028 F-47 first flight is a near LRIP aircraft, then it should reach USAF service around 2030. After all, the stupid claim here is that this is a near completed fighter since the prototype flew in 2019 (roflmao).
This is going end for the Americans the same way FGFA ended for Indians. So much bluster and confidence, proclamations of greatness about the program and then quiet. Then excuses.
F-47 will not be in service in 2028. If a prototype flew in 2019 then it should be in service approx 7 years after that. It only took the extended F-22 program 11 years to go from concept demonstrator to LRIP and approx 7 years to go from flying prototype to LRIP. So if measured by that same schedule, F-47 prototype in 2019 = F-47 service in 2026. Let's say it takes 2 years longer for various delays and match it with the aimed 2028. That should be service year then? What if (and it surely will prove to be) it is not?
Only problem with trying this hard to prove China is ahead, is that PLA official roadmap and academic writings doesn't believe it is on per with United States yet. And rightfully so.
I don't find it particularly useful to compare 1990s development pace (when US has no actual challenge to face) with today's second cold war environment.
B21 development is a good example of how they can get it done smoothly when it is needed.
Also, your only proof that US doesn't have GaN on SiC MMICS in its new radars is based on the fact you didn't find it in articles and open source writing? This isn't proof at all.
Clearly when it comes missile arsenal development china is ahead. But it is only one aspect of it.
Sorry but nowhere in my post here are we talking about GaN on SiC. That is another thread.
This thread and post is purely about how some believe F-47 will be ready in USAF by end of 2028 and it will 100% be proven false. 2028 is the aimed completion of flying prototype.
Not comparing America and China and missiles or radars here. Let's not broaden that conversation and stay on topic please.
As for the who's ahead? I didn't comment on that. I didn't comment on roadmap of Chinese 6th gen programs. Again let's focus on this supposed timeline for F-47.
BTW PLA has never claimed it is behind or ahead of the US in any official roadmap. As for academic writings, from whom? Are they PLA or CPC academics? If not, what weight would such writings hold when they are comparing PLA and US military?
As for GaN topic, that's off topic for this thread so not sure why you brought it up and since we only know that F-35 GaN radar was delayed and no mentioned of GaN on SiC for the American F-18EF, F-15EX and F-35 radars, lets just leave this topic alone, particularly since it's off topic for the thread.
First it is disbelief and ridicule and eventually it is quiet ignoring but deep down, acceptance
Ok then what does this refer to?
Doesn't sound on topic.
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